For anyone wondering where the April Superlatives went — here they are. Last week was dedicated to organizing, but we weren’t organized enough to publish this on time. Before May slips any further away, here’s a yearbook-style look back at the projects we completed in April. We even included a few never-before-seen moments. If you want more monthly superlatives, we’ve been posting these since January 2011 and they’re collected in one place on our site. Now, onward — and fair warning: this post starts with my newest obsession.
Most Addicted: Me, when it comes to Instagram. It took a while for us to join, but now Instagram is basically my new Pinterest for quick visual updates. You can follow us under the username YoungHouseLove for behind-the-scenes snapshots, shopping finds, and plenty of cute kid photos. We also post many of the shots to Twitter and Facebook, so if you don’t use Instagram you can still catch the highlights there. Another fun way to overshare life’s little moments.
Favorite New Hashtag: After our bathroom window frosting project inspired @kandisebrown to frost her window, this hashtag was born: #nomoreeyecontactwithstrangerswhilepeeing.
Most Improved: The toilet situation in our master bathroom. Thanks to a little loo-switcheroo, we replaced an awkward space-aged almond model with a standard-height classic white toilet. We donated the old one via Craigslist to a family in need, and later learned Habitat for Humanity received generous donations from readers to help that family toward a new home. That was a great outcome.
Phat-est: Eminem, at least in the memory of a 17-year-old Sherry who met him on MTV’s Fanatic. After initially dodging attention about it, she finally admitted to the clip that’s been circulating online. She still gets shy when it’s mentioned.
Biggest Succa: These succulents — technically the one on the left is the biggest — that Sherry planted in glass containers. They’ve thrived and grown nicely. We’ll share updates and more photos soon.
Most Transitional: The transitions we installed in the kitchen to smooth the slight drop between the new and old floors. It’s a small detail that made the space feel more cohesive.
Most Inspiring: Our visit to Richmond Homearama, where we toured eight houses full of creative ideas and design inspiration. We still haven’t picked a single favorite, since each home offered something memorable.
Most Avant-Garde: Clara, whose squiggles we turned into fabric. She proudly explained that her drawings included “lots of worms,” which made her very pleased with her art.
Most Helpful: A LivingSocial deal we used for professional landscaping advice. The tips were great and the session pushed us to finally take action and do something with our yard.
Best Worn Out Face: Mine, earned after digging up struggling bushes in the front yard so we could plant fresh ones and transplant the survivors.
Least Likely To Share Her Worn Out Face On The Blog: Sherry, who tried to play it cool while removing brick from the front planter so it could actually function as a proper bed.
Narrowest: The walkway to our front door — at least it felt narrow until we cleared out the overgrown bushes that used to encroach on both sides.
We’re hoping to share an update soon about our attempts to grow grass along that path.
Most Problematic: Our patio, which became overgrown and littered with leaves over the winter. A thorough clean-up and some fresh plantings brought it back under control.
Most Likely To Be A Rockstar: Clara, particularly when it comes to her rock box. She uses it constantly and treats rainy days like a crisis, since they interrupt her rock-collecting obsession.
Most Fleeting: The rock box in its brief life as a sandbox, which was the original intention before it evolved into its current form.
Most Delayed: Building the sand/rock box itself, a project that sat on the to-do list for nearly a year before we finally tackled it. Better late than never.
Spring-iest: Our mantel, which Sherry refreshed with seasonal colors and a few new arrangements to bring spring into the living room.
Least Straightforward: Swapping out a bathroom light fixture, which turned into a bigger project when we discovered a large hole in the drywall behind the old fixture that needed patching.
Class Artist: Sherry, for a colorful painting she made that we decided to hang in the bathroom to brighten the space.
Closest Shave: Our bathroom door, which needed a small section trimmed off the bottom so it could clear the grate and open fully to accommodate a bath mat.
Weirdest: Sherry, for deciding to take a bold design risk with an oil-rubbed bronze finish — a move that surprised some but felt right to her. Side note: Sherry has fondly held the title of “weirdest family member” since her teens and wears it proudly.
Most Likely To Get Replaced: Our HP printer, after a post about how some of our purchases are holding up. Readers offered many recommendations for alternatives, so if we can’t resolve its issues soon, it may be time to replace it.
Most Likely To Induce A Whale Obsession: Our visit to the Richmond Craft Mafia’s Spring Bada-Bing show, where several pieces of whale art (and other whimsical creations) caught our attention.
Longest: Our updated to-do list. It’s shorter than it used to be, but still long enough to keep us plenty busy.
Most Unintentionally Naughty-Sounding Post Title: The post titled “You Down with O-R-G,” which raised a few eyebrows when some readers misread it. Sherry chose it because it rhymed with OPP and playfully echoed an earlier ORB obsession.
What did you accomplish in April? Did you tackle any spring organizing, or uncover any vintage footage of your younger self? Have you ever kept a running list of accomplishments to look back on? Share your highlights in the comments. It’s rewarding to pause adding items to the to-do list and celebrate the things you’ve already crossed off — it keeps momentum going, especially with projects like our deck and Clara’s second birthday party coming up this weekend.